Glass cutter



Feb. s, 1944.

A. T. FLETCHER eLAs GUTTER Filed sept. 9L 1940 Patented Feb. 8, 1944UNI-TED` STATES PATENT OFFICE .9.,31i1,030-- tjv u l GLASS CUTTER Artllurf'ierry Fletcher; Bristol,v Conn; appiicanon. september. 9, 194:0,seria; No.v 356,026

21 clame 1to1. r9-52X My invention relates to glass cutters. s

It hasamong its objectsto provide Vani improved glass-cutter. Furtherobjects are. to pro` vide an improved. cutter unit-for such cutters and]such a unit having improved means for posi tioningrand holding the samein av suitable holder i or support. Still another object i'sto providean improved holder or support cooperating with my improved unitv inarrimprovedmanner. Still further objects of myinvention are to provide suchan-improved cutter unitA and improved holder or supporting means whichare adaptedrtolusein either ordinary hand` operatedv cutters or inthe-pillar posts of glasscuttingimachines.` T-hese' and other objectsand advantages of mywimproved construction will, however, hereinaftermore fully appear.

yIn the accompanying drawing, I have: for purposes of illustrationcertain embodimentsA which my invention may assume in practice Figure lis a topplan viewoia'hand-operat'ed cutter equipped withl myimprovements;

Fig. 2is a side elevation of the same; 1 v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspectiveview show`r ing the parts of myimproved cutter uni-tlii'il spaced relation ready` for assembly;

Fig. 3a is aside'elevationof thetip part ofthe unit shown in Figure 3ona smaller scale; A

Fig. 4 is a perspectiveviewsimilar to Figure 3 but showing the partswhen in assembledrelation; Fig. 4a is a side elevation'of the unitshownin- Figure 4 on the scale of- Figure 3a; Fig. 5 is a perspective'rview of the working' end oi a holder having my improved `unit 'infoperative position thereon, one end ofthe coop-` erating tool beingshownindottedlines in' the Vposition occupied thereby in inserting orremoving the unit; v

Fig. 6 is a like perspective viewshowing theunit spaced from the 4endAof the holder, the'tool being also indicated indotted lines in positionin the unit; y Y

Fig. 7 is a side elevationof the tool; Fig. 8 is -a verticalsectionalview of a pluralityof my improved units in feeding relation in' airpillar post of a-glass cutting machine, and

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional viewon linel S-U'of Figure 8, the scalebeing enlarged.

Inthe illustrative construction Vshown in Fig ures 1 to 6, I have showna usual holder I`,

vadapted to'be grasped in the hand, and having my improved glass:cutting unit; genezallylindi-v cated 'atf 2, removably carried inits'working end;

lOl

shown this unit andthe working endv of the holder ber ingof an improvedconstruction and being adapted. to enable the use of an improved unit inser-t-` ing. and removing tool, vgenerally indicated at 3; all. as.hereinafter more fully described. Referring'more particularly to the'unit` 2, it will"y be observed that the'sameincludes awheel; carryingwire clip or so-called .tip? 4 and a coopr.vv eratingV frame 5, each ofwhich is of improved. construction and operatively connected in an im'lproved manner. toV the other, tolform thev im-l proved unit .2. As'shown,.a cutter wheel 6 of usual construction is journalled on acrosspor-f tion .l of a U'sl'iaped wire-clip or tip havingz..

longitudinally extendingV wire 'side'4 portions '8- eX.`

tending rearwardlyiromthis cross-portion and. theseportions 8v suitablyangularly off-set relative.to.one another asshown; for example; in`Figure 3c'. The frame 5 is also'U-shaped, but formed of' sheet metal andof such maximumwidth as to tsnugly between the portions 8 while'permitting. the wheely to,` rotate freely ini the open end oftheffijame. Theframe is also disposed with its -open' end toward thecross porftion! 1 of the tip ll,.andisI provided withfoppof site'longitudinal slotsv 9 in'` its end adjacent the` latter, whicharefadapte'd to'. project betweenthey wheel 6 and side portions 8, andreceive ,the crossportion 'lon opposite sides of thewheel 6i.- Further,.the oppositeor closed'end of the frame Ef'is provided with a transverseslot It] of'suilel cient .widthto receive the angularly: oi-setvex-`tremities l off the side portions 8(l5igureg4cv)` and` in which theseextremitiesxare bent'later-v ally when the Ueshaped tipfh'as beenassembledi with its cross portion 'l engaging the` ends' ofv the slots9; the'tip 4 with the'wheel 64 thereon? preferably beingformed-initially as showrrinl Figure 3, i. e;, with its portions 8angularly dis--v posed, an'dthereaiter having these portionsbent` flatinto contact with thesides' I21of`the`ira'me" 5 and their extremitiesIl'bent-into the slotlll,4 as shown in Figurev 4;

A kAs a result offthis construction thewiretip.: l and' frame 5 notonlyf cooperate"t o\.p'rev'ent longitudinal movement of either relative13o/the'l other, but each cooperates to brace the other,y ini suchmanner as to producen a construction which provides an effective journaliol.r the wheelv 6' without causing binding thereof.v Further', itwilllbe noted fthat' both the Iframe"` 5 and thefside"` portions of thetipv .4"provi'deeffective rlor1`gi" tudina'll'yv 'extendingguidingportions` which mayf bev'eryaccuratelyfformed'and which are; ac-nl' cordingly',` adapted to cooperate-in positioning the? unit in asuitable support, all while the construction remains exceedinglyinexpensive. Of these, however, I rely upon the olf-set portions 8 tohold the unit against dropping out of grooves in the holder, the off-setrelation of these portions to one another enabling them to engageopposite walls of opposite grooves with sumcient friction to prevent theunit from dropping out of the grooves, as hereinafter described.Attention isvalso directed to the fact that an unobstructediverticalspace yI3 is provided between the wheel 6 and the closed end of theframe 5,

in such manner as to receive a kcorresponding 4,

straight portion I4 on a new and convenient unit handling tool 3, theuse of which markedly fa-y cilitates the handling, insertion and removalof the very small unit 2, Referring to the holder I, it will be observedthat the latter is provided with a transverse or vertical slot I6 in itsfront or working end and with 'longitudinal or horizontal slots I1 inits' opposite ylongitudinal sides and which open into the slot I6 nearits top .and lead through the front'edges of the walls of the slot I6near the junction oi the sloping end Ia, Ib of the holder. O'ftheseslots, the slot I6 is adapted to receive thezunitt 2 vwhen insertedlongitudinally therein withfthezportions 8 opposite the slots I1, whiletheselslots I1 are adapted to deflect and frictionally engage theoli-setside portions 8 when theunit is thus longitudinally inserted; theclosed end `I8 of frame 5 also abutting against the closedvertical en'dI9 of the slot I6 when the cutter wheel 6 is incuttnig position at thefront end of the-"holder as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5. Here,lattention is also directed to the factzthatthe unit 2 is thus verysecurely positio'ned frictionally in the Aholder by the friction oftheportions-B against opposite upper Vand lower` side surfaces ofopposite slots I'l by the dierent oli-set portions 8, all withoutrequiring the provision of any additional spring means and withoutrequiring any means either on the holder. or on the unit which extendbeyond the, Further, the cutter:

inner wall ofthe slot I6. wheel is the .only protruding portion of theunit,

the frame `5 and portions 8 being wholly within.

thelimits of the slots I6 and I1, so that thereare no fprojections.Moreover, it will be `observed thattlthe structurev of the holder issuch as to' facilitate defthandling of the tiny unit with awtool, asvdistinguished from markedly more clumsily with .the liingers;'the slotI6 extending clear. through the holder transversely, in such manner asto enable the tool 3 to be received when its portion I 4 is projectedthrough the opening yI3 in therunit from either the top or bottom, andalso enabling this portion to be projected through this aperture to anydesired extent without conflicting with the holder. Thus, obviously, theunit may berassembled in the holder with the parts in the relation shownin Figure 6, and, when assembled, the parts may be separated when in theposition shown in Figure .5,

while, if desired, the same may also be assembled or separated byinserting the tool from beneath therunitpl .'.In:Figures 8 and 9, I haveshown a seriesl of my `improved units 2 ln superimposed vertical feedingrelation in an elongated magazine' or chamber in a support in the formof a pillar posty 2| ofa machine cutter. In this construction, the unitsand their cooperating slots in the support. are essentially similar tothe construction `previously, .-described. Here, however, j the nseveral units 2 are disposed in superimposed rela tion in chamber 20,herein rectangular and corresponding to the slot I6, while the oppositeoirset side portions 8 on the units 2 are deected and act as heretoforefrictionally on opposite walls of opposite slots 22 in that chamber atright angles to the latter and corresponding to the slot I1. Obviously,with the portions 8 of the units frictionally engaging opposite walls ofopposite slots 22, and the. latter tending to hold the unitsfrictionally in the relationy shown in Figure 8 and each unit having itswheel 6 at the bottom, the units may be fed downward successively intotheir bottommost or operative position at the open end of the chamber20, while being guided in the downward movement and held frictionally'in any position in the post, including this operative position. Herenote also that a suitable abutment is also provided, as, for example, ascrew 23 rotatable in a threaded aperture 24 `an'd havingflats25,the'bottom one ofY whichengages the top of the top unit andthereby4 holds all the units against longitudinal` upward movement the`chamber 20 when the` bottommost wheel is being; pressed against thedrawn and a new unit 2v is pressed down froml the top in such manner asthereby to cause theA bottommost unit to be ejected and the next unitabove the same to be moved down into voperative position, whereupon thescrew l23 is again inserted.

f kAs a result of my improved construction, my improved unit is adaptedto be very securely held in position in the support by the portions 8without requiring the use of any additional holding springs.` Myimproved support also cooperates electively in holding the units whilealso enabling the unit to be very readily inserted or removed.Further,-attention is also directed to the minimum amount l,of materialand minimum number of parts, and lfurther to the minimumnumberofgoperations required to produce myimproved construction, -whichenables-the latter to, be very'v inexpensively manufactured, both asregardsvthe unit and the holder. It is also made possible, due to thedenitepositioning ofthe unit in the support, -toreduce ,the wear onIboth the unit and support, while any loss of effectiveness due toAfatigue of the meta1 is minimized, Moreovenrmy improved construction isYvery convenient in use and adapted; tov'cooperate in an improved mannerwith a handling tool, and to bervery deftlyy handled and markedlymorevquicklyinserted and removeddwithsuch a tool, than is possible withthe iingers.- On the other hand, if a special tool is not available, aknife will serve admirably, fthe unit -being securely positioned en theApoint of any'sr'nall-blade inserted in the position indicated y forjthetool end I4 and such a blade being adapted to be slipped between thewheel andthe iadjacent side'of the frame V5.; All need for projectingjournals orthe like, Yon which the hands are apt to be injured, isalso-eliminated atthe same, time that-all need for sets of cross slotscooperating with Asuch protruding ends or for addi'A tional materialprojecting beyond the vertical groove in the holder is eliminated. Myimproved unit and my improved cooperating receiving and` guiding meanstherefor is also equally well adapt-v4 ed tov useH in hand-manipulatedcutters Y and inthe;- pillar posts. pf glass. cutting macheeseand,

improved unitmay thus be positioned and fed in a magazine in awholly newmanner. These and other advantages of my improvements will, however, beclearly apparent to thosey skilled in theart.

While I have in this rapplication specifically described certainembodimentswhich my invention may assume in practice, it willbe-understood that the same are shown for purposes of illustration andthat my invention may be modified and embodied in various other formswithout departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.l

What I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is: a I

1. In a glass cutter unit,l a frame having longitudinalr sides andhavingv a cutter Wheel journalled in one end of said frame, and alsohaving outer longitudinal guidescarried by said frame on opposite sidesthereof and on outerA faces of said longitudinal sides and projectinglaterally from and extending along said opposite sides of said irarne.`

2. In a glass cutter unit, a frame having longitudinal sides and havinga cutter Wheel journalled in one end of said frame, and also havingresilient longitudinal guides projecting laterally from and extendingalong opposite outer sides of said frame, the sides of said framev alsohaving edge portions above and below said guides.

3. In a glass cutter unit, a frame having longitudinal sides and an openend', and a cooperating member carried on said frame and having a cutterwheel journalled `on said .member and rotatable in the open end of saidframe and having longitudinal guides angularly off-set relative to oneanother, and also extendingfalong outside opposite outersides of saidframe.

tudinal guides comprising wire sections having their rear ends bent intosaid slots.

. 8. In a glass cutterunit insertable in a holder, a U-shaped frame, anda. cooperating member having a cutter Wheelv journalled thereon androtatable in the open end of said frame, and also having outerlongitudinal guides extending along outside opposite sides of saidframe, said frame havingslots in its front Yand rear y,ends and saidguides comprising; longitudinal Wire sections extending into Vsaid slotsat their opposite ends.

9. In a glass cutter unit insertable in a holder, a U-shaped framehavingcaslotted open end, and a U-shaped Wire clip fixed to said vframeand having a transverse journal portion carrying a cutting wheel anddisposed in the slots in the open end of said frame and also havinglongi-l tudinal relatively angularly off-setside portions outside thersides of said frame. i

10. In a glass cutter unit insertable in a holder, a U-shaped framehaving slotted closed and open ends, and a U-shaped Wire Aclip having atransverse` journal portion carrying a `cutting Wheel and disposed intheslots in the open end of said framey and also having longitudinallyextending side portions extending along outside the sides of said frameand having ends bent into the slots in the closed end thereof.

- 4. In a glass cutter unit vinsertable in a holder, l

a Ushaped frame, and a cooperating reversely disposed U-shaped memberxed thereto and having a cutter Wheel journalled on the closed end ofsaid member and rotatable in the open end of said frame, and also havingouter longitudinal guides extending along outside opposite sides of saidframe.

5. In a glass cutter unit insertable in a holder. a U-shaped frame, anda cooperating reversely disposed U-shaped member having a cutter wheeljournalled thereon in the open end of said frame, and also having outerlongitudinal guides extending along outside opposite sides of saidframe, said U-shaped frame being sheet metal and said Ushaped membercomprising a wire clip having spaced side portions carried on saidframe.

6. In a glass cutter unit insertable in a holder, a frame havinglongitudinally extending sides and an open end, and a cooperating memberhaving a cutter Wheel journalled thereon and rotatable in the open endof said frame, said cooperating member having outer longitudinal guidesextending along outside opposite sides of said frame, and said framehaving slots in its open end and said cooperating member also having atransverse wheel carrying portion between said longitudinal guides andengaging in the ends of said slots.

7. In a glass cutter unit insertable in a holder, a U-shaped frame, anda cooperating member having a cutter Wheel journalled thereon androtatable in the open end of said frame, and also having outerlongitudinal guides extending along outside opposite sides of saidframe, said frame having slots in its closed end and said longi- 11. Ina glass cutter, ,a support having a passage open in one direction toreceive a cutting unit and also having open ended `grooves open,- ing insaid directionetc receive unit guides and in opposite walls ,oiv saidpassage, and a cutter unithaving a frame received in said passage andalso having guides projecting laterally from said frame and received insaid grooves and extending longitudinally of said frame outside thelatter, and a cutter wheel journalled on said frame between oppositesides thereof and at one end of said guides.

12.- In a glasslcutter, a transversely slotted support havingbppositelongitudinally extending slots therein, and a cutter unit having a framein the transverse slot in said support, a transverse journal at theouter end of said frame, angularly off-set longitudinally extendingguiding portions projecting laterally from said frame and disposed inthe longitudinal slots in said support, and a cutter Wheel on saidjournal, said portions being deected by and engaging in saidlongitudinal slots to restrain said unit against unintentional movementrelative thereto.

13. In a glass cutter, a transversely apertured and longitudinallygrooved support having an inner end Wall in the transverse aperturetherein, and a cutter carrying unit in the transverse aperture thereinhaving guides insertable and removable longitudinally in thelongitudinal grooves in said support and carrying a cutter Wheel atitsfront end and having a closed inner end engaging the inner end wall ofthe transverse aperture in said support and also having a transverseaperture between said Wheel and said closed end.

14. In a glass cutter, a transversely apertured and longitudinallyslotted support having an inner end wall in the transverse aperturetherein, and a cutter carrying unit in the transverse aperture thereinhaving guides insertable and removable longitudinally in thelongitudinal slots in said support and carrying a cutter Wheel at itsfront end and having a closed inner end engaging the inner end Wall ofthe transverse aperture in said support and also having a trans-.-

verse aperture betweensaid wheel .and said closed end, saidwtransverseaperture in lsaid support comprising .a :slot having Asaid.longi tudinalslots inv its-sideiwalls and openv atits opposite ends and-providingaccess for axtool to the transverse aperture Iin said unit from saidopposite ends.y i .y

15,-Ina` glass cutter, a transversely. apertured and longitudinallygrooved support-.having an yinner end Wall'. in .the-'transverseaperture therein, anda cutter. carrying unit in the transverse aperturetherein having guides insertable and removable longitudinally in thelongitudinal grooves-in said 1support1andf. carrying va cutter wheel atits front end andihaving. a closed inner end engaging the inner end-Wall of the transverse aperture in said support and also having atransverse aperture between; said Wheel and said closedv end; said`guides being relatively angularly offset and engageable with and deectedby the Walls of said longitudinal grooves to retain said unit inposition in saidl support.-

16. In a glass cutter, a lpost Ihaving an elongated chamber thereinhavingianlopen end, a series of cutter units Vin superimposed positionin said chamber, and cooperating unit guiding and positioning means forlenabling said units to be successively fed through said chamber to saidopen end and successively maintained in operative position in said openend. v

17. In a glass cutter, a post having an elongated chamber therein havingan open end and grooves in opposite Walls of said chamber, and a seriesof superimposed cutter units' in said chamber and successively movablethrough the l latter into an operative position' in said open end andeach having guiding and positioning means cooperatingwith said groovesand a cutter Wheell at the same end of each unit.

18. In a glass cutter, a post having an elongated chamber therein havingan open end and grooves in opposite walls of said chamber, and a Seriesof superimposed cutter units in said .19." In a. glass cutter, apillarHpost-havingla longitudinal chamber adapted; toreceive aplurality; of cutter. -unitsfin i superimposed position therein andhaving an openiend-invwhichjthe bottommost unit is disposable inoperative` posi-` tion, and also having longitudinal slots on oppositewalls of said chamber leading to said open end and adapted toreceiveguide portions on said superimposed units and successively directthe. latter into said operative position as said units are fedlongitudinally through said chamber;A y t '20. In a glass cutter, apillar post having a longitudinal chamber adapted toreceive a plu ralityof cutter units in superimposed position therein and having an open endin which the bottommost-unit is disposable rin operative posif tion,`and also having `longitudinal slots ontop-v positevvalls of said chamberleading to said openl end and adapted to receive guide portions on saidsuperimposed units and successively direct the latter into saidoperative position as said units fare fed longitudinally through .saidchamber, said chamber alsa-having `a ltransverse aperture therein andunit positioning means adjustable in said aperture.- f.;

21. In a glass cutter, a support having ,a 'vertical slot in its forwardend and longitudinal horizontalslotsI intersecting the vertical slot andextended rearwardly past the vertical slot, anda cutterk unit comprisingan axled -cutter located inthe verticalv slot and acutter carrierengaged in the horizontal slots.v -v

l K ARTHURTERRY FLETCHER.

